Suction cleaner



June 26, 1962 J. E. VANCE SUCTION CLEANER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1957 Q .QS

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6 SheeLs--SheefI 2 J. E. VANCE SUCTION CLEANER June 26, 1962 Filed oct. 16, 1957 June 26, 1962 J. E. vANcE sucTIoN CLEANER 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 16, 1957 June Z6, 1962 J. E. VANCE sUcTIoN CLEANER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed OCT.. 1G, 1957 June 26, 1962 J. E. vANCE suoTIoN CLEANER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 16, 1957 DQ kmo m June 26, 1962 J. E. vANcE sUcTIoN CLEANER Filed Oct. 1e, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent O 3,040,366 SUCTIN CLEANER John E. Vance, Scottsdale, Ariz., assigner to "fha Hoover Company, North Canton, (Ehio, a corporation of hio Filed (1ct. 16, 1957, Ser.. No. 696,538 6 Claims. (Sl. 15354) The present invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to a cleaner having a surface cleaning nozzle movable relative to the cleaner lbody to scan the surface to be cleaned.

An object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaner with a movable nozzle having a surface cleaning inlet which is restricted relative to the surface area to be cleaned in the path of cleaner movement. Another'object is to provide a suction cleaner with a surface cleaning nozzle having a restricted inlet relative to the surface area to be cleaned in the path of cleaner movement, and such nozzle inlet being movable to completely scan the surface area while the cleaner is propelled along its path. A further object is to provide a suction cleaner having a 'shroud of relatively large area and a nozzle of restricted surface cleaning area movable with respect to the shroud to scan the surface area covered by the shroud while the cleaner is propelled over the surface to be cleaned. Another object is to provide a suction cleaner having a nozzle of relatively large surface cleaning area connected to a source of low suction, and a smaller nozzle connected to a source of high suction and movable to clean the same surface area as the large nozzle. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a central section through one embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a section along line 2-2 in FIGURE l,

lFIGURE 3 is a central sectional view of another embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 4 is asection along line 4-4 in F'lGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View of a third embodiment of the invention, and

FIGURE 6 is a top view of FIGURE 5 with parts -removed. l

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIG- URES l and 2 comprises a cleaner body 10 of an upright cleaner, including a shell portion 11 having a forward lower wall 12 formed in an arc of about 180 degrees, spaced side walls 13-13, a bottom wall 14 and a rear wall 15. An L-shaped cover 16 is hinged at 17 to the rear wall 15 and is secured by a latch 18 to the top wall 19 of the shell. A pair of rear wheels Ztl is mounted on a shaft 21 supported in spaced brackets attached to the bottom wall 14. A propellinghandle 22 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 21 by a bail 23.

Disposed within the shell 11 is a shroud or stationary nozzle 25 having an annular U-shaped surface engaging lip 26, the forward portion of which is attached to the arcuate `front wall 1-2 and the portion between the side walls 13-13 is secured to a post Z7 projecting from the bot-tom wall 14. The shroud 25 has an annular vertical portion 28 merging into a top Wall 29 extending upwardly and radially inwardly of the vertical wall 28.

A supporting bracket 30 has three legs 31 each of which is secured by rivets 32 to the shroud top wall 29 and project upwardly to a central hub 33. Two of the legs 31 of the supporting bracket are diametrically opposed and terminate in a wall 34 on each of which is mounted a front wheel 35 arranged at the ends of the arcuate wall 12. Projecting through an opening 38 in the hub 33 is a shaft 39 rigidly mounted on a plate 40 Iby a nut 41, and the plate is secured to the hub 33 by a plurality of screws 42. The shaft 39 senves as the axis of rotation for a nozzle 43 comprising a cylindrical housing 44 from the lower end of ICC which laterally projects a tubular portion 45 terminating in a surface cleaning inlet 46 defined -by a perimeter lip 47 engaging the surface 36 to be cleaned. At the opposite ends of the cylindrical housingpde is an internal shoulder 4S on which seats a bearing 49* retained in position by a plate 5t). The shaft 39 projects through the plates 50, and the nut 41 secures the bearings 49 in proper position so that the nozzle 43 can be rotated relative to the two bearings 49. Projecting from the cylindrical housing 44 diametrically opposite the nozzle portion 45' is a weight 52 to counterbalance the weight of the nozzle extending beyond the axis of rotation about the shaft 39'.

Rigidly attached to the housing 44 is a relatively large pulley 53 provided with a fbelt 54 which extends rearwardly to a smaller pulley 55 rotatably mounted on a shaft 56 supported on the cleaner bottom wall 14. The small pulley 55 is rigidly secured to a larger friction wheel 57 also rotatable on the shaft 56, and the wheel 57 is provided with a peripheral band 58 which frictionally engages a relatively small wheel 59 mounted on the shaft 60 of a partially shown motor 61 arranged in a housing 62. The

combination of relatively small and large drive wheels 59 and 57, and the pulleys 55, 53 result in rotating the nozzle 43 at a speed so that the nozzle inlet 46 engages the surface 36 and scans the area in the cleaner path defined by the spaced dotted lines 37-37 in FIGURE 2 as the cleaner is moved forwardly and rearwardly over the surface.

A `fan chamber 63 is formed by a casing attached to the upper end o-f the housing 62 and has a central air inlet 64 and an exhaust passageway 65 provided with a discharge opening 66 in the shell 11. A suction creating fan 67 is arranged in the chamber 63 and is secured to the motor shaft 60 by a nut 68.

Rearwardly of the motor 61 is a filter housing 69 provided with a hinged cover 7 tl to form a sealed chamber 71. A pipe 72 extends between the filter chamber '71 and the motor housing 62 for passage of filtered air to the fan chamber. A bag 73 is arranged in the chamber 71 and has yan inlet 74 adapted to be removably attached to one end of a conduit 75 which extends from the filter housing 69 forwardly to a dirt manifold chamber 76 formed by a C-shaped member "77 cooperating with the exterior surface of the rotatable nozzle housing 44, and the member 77 is secured by bracket 79 to the supporting arms 31. The cylindrical housing 44 has opposed ports 78 to provide communication between the nozzle inlet 46 and the dirt chamber 76,

In operating this embodiment of the invention, upon energizing the motor 61 the fan 67 is rotated to create suction in the nozzle inlet 46 for passage of dirt laden air from the surface being cleaned through the housing inlet 7 8 into the dirt manifold chamber 76 and then travels the conduit 75 into the filter bag 73 which removes the dirt. The cleaned air stream passes through the pipe 72 into the motor housing 62 to cool the motor 61 and then enters the fan chamber 63 for discharge through the exhaust outlet 66 into the atmosphere. When it is necessary to replace the filter bag 73 the shell cover 16 is unlatched to expose t-he cover 7l) which is moved to uncover the filter chamber 71 lfor access to the bag 73, and the latter is then removed from the conduit 75 and a new bag secured to the conduit whereupon the covers 70 and 16 are returned to their closed positions.

The cleaner is reoiprocated by the handle 22j over the surface 36 to clean an area in the cleaner path indicated by the spaced dotted lines 37-37, and the annular lip 26 of the shroud '25 encloses a circular area in the cleaner path to be cleaned. The nozzle inlet 46 is rotated by the motor 61 in an annular path within the shroud 25 adjacent the annular lip 26.

It will be noted that the area ofthe nozzle inlet 46 is relatively small in comparison to the surface area to be cleaned between the spaced lines 37--37 in the cleaner path. As the nozzle 43 rotates, the inlet 46 scans an annular area or the surface 36 in the cleaners path and accordingly the nozzle must be rotated at a speed to scan overlapping annular areas as the cleaner is propelled along its path. In usual practice, an upright cleaner is moved along a surface tol be cleaned at a speed of about 3 feet per second. The speed reduction between the motor 6'1 and the nozzle pulley 53 is such that the nozzle inlet 46 rotates at a speed to scan all the surface area in the cleaner path during' movement of the cleaner in its path at a speed of about 3 feet per second.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in PEG- URES 3 and 4 comprises a suction cleaner of the upright type provided with a body 9i) having an upper portion 9.1 secured to a lower portion 92 by a hinge 93 and a latch 94. The lower body portion 92 includes a bottom wall `95, vertical arcuate front wall 96 and spaced side walls 97 of irregular contour as shown in FIGURE 4 terminating in a rear wall 98. A pair of front and rear `wheels 99 and 161) respectively are rotatably mounted on Attached to the bottom wall 95 are four legs 152 of j an upstanding platform 103. Supported at the rear of the platform 1193 is a filter housing 11M- having a side wal-l 105 secured by a hinge 1116 and latch 1117 to provi-de access to a lter chamber 108. A conduit 169 is rigidly secured to the platform 103 and has one end 110 projecting into the chamber 1118 for frictional connection with the inlet of a lter bag 111. Forwardly of the filter hous ing 194 is a motor housing 112 supported on the platform 103. A partially shown motor 113 is arranged in the housing 112 and has its armature shaft 111l projecting into a fan chamber 115 formed by a casing 116 attached to the motor housing. Disposed in the fan chamber 115 is a fan 117 secured to the motor shaft 114. Formed in the fan casing 116 is an inlet 118, and a discharge con duit 119 is provided with an outlet 121i* in the body cover 91. A conduit 123 forms an air passageway between the filter and-motor housings 104 and 112 respectively.

An arcuate shaped opening 125 is formed in the bottom wall 95 of the body and is defined by a perimeter lip 126 which functions as a stationary nozzle or shroud for a movable nozzle 127. The nozzle 127 is disposed in the arcuate shroud 1216 and is provided with a surface cleaning inlet 1213 having a perimeter lip 129 oifset at one end of an elongated tubular member 130 having an elbow 131 provided with a channel 132 rotatably seated on a shoulder 133 of the filter chamber conduit 1119. The nozzle 127 is rotated on a vertical axis aligned with the elbow 131 by means of a pin 134 rotatably mounted in a bearing 135 secured to the cleaner bottom wall 95.

`In order to oscillate the nozzle inlet 12-8 within the transverse limits of the shroud 126, the nozzle is provided with an opstanding wall 136 defining an elongated slot or recess 137 which slidably receives a pin 13S attached to the marginal edge of a gear member 139 rotatably mounted on a pin 146 secured to the platform 103 by means of a nut 141. An annular internal gear surface 142 is formed on the member 139 and engages a pinion gear 143 rigidly attached to the lower end ofthe armature shaft 114. 'Ihe power transmission from the motor shaft 114 to the nozzle 127 causes the inlet 12S to be oscillated in the shroud 126 about the pivot pin 134.

When it is desired to clean the surface 89, the cleaner is propelled by the handle 101 over the surface in the cleaner path defined between the spaced dotted lines 144 shown in FIGURE 4. The motor 113 rotates the fan 117 which causes a suction stream of dirt laden air to enter the nozzle inlet 128 and pass into the bag 111 which removes the dirt and the cleaned air then travels through the conduit 123 into the motor housing 112 to cool the d motor 113 and then passes through the inlet 118 into the fan chamber for passage through the outlet 120 into the atmosphere. The filter bag 11 may be replaced by releasing the body latch 94 to expose the filter housing 1M- and the door 11i-5 is then opened and the bag 111 removed from the conduit 109 for attachment thereto of a new bag.

The motor 113 also rotates the gear member 139 whereby the pin 138 reciprocates in the recess 137, and such movement of the pin 138 causes the nozzle inlet 128 to oscillate in the shroud or stationary nozzle 126 about the pivot pin 134. The nozzle inlet 128, as in the previous embodiment, has considerably less area than the surface area between the dotted lines 144 in the cleaner path and relative to the area of the shroud opening 125. However, this surface area is completely scanned by the nozzle inlet 123 due to its speed of oscillation in the shroud opening 125, whereby as the cleaner travels in its path the nozzle inlet oscillates with sufficient rapidity to scan the surface area transversely of the cleaner path.

The third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 and comprises a suction cleaner of the upright type having a body 149 including a nozzle front wall 150, spaced side walls 151, a rear wall 152 and a top wall 153. The body is supported on front and rear wheels 154 and 155 respectively, and is propelled over the surface 156 to be cleaned by a handle 157v pivoted on a bracket 158 mounted on the body. A motor housing 159 cooperates with the body 149 to form a fan chamber 160. A cleaner exhaust passageway l161 extends 'from the fan chamber and terminates in the rear wall 152. In the wall 163 of the fan chamber is an inlet 164 communicating with a suction air passageway 165 formed by Wall members cast integral with the body 149 and a cooperating removable cover plate 166. The forward end 167 of the cover plate 166 cooperates with marginal edges of the body'wails 15d and 151 to form an inlet 168 of a shroud or stationary nozzle 176.

Disposed in the housing 159 isa motor having a shaft 171 to which is attached a suction creating fan 172 for drawing dirt laden air through the stationary nozzle inlet 163, and passageway 165 into the fan chamber 160- `and the air is discharged therefrom through .the exhaust passageway 161. A motor pulley 173 is also rigidly attached to the motor shaft 171 and projects into the air passageway 165.

Rotatably mounted in the end walls 151 is a shaft 174 provided with a pulley 175 driven by the motor pulley 173 through a connecting -belt 176 in the air passageway 165. Disposed forwardly of the shaft 174 is another shaft 1'7'7 having its opposite ends rotatably mounted in the nozzle end walls and is provided with an enlarged pulley 178 driven by -a belt 179 connected to a pulley 1S@ on the rear shaft 174.

Mounted on the shaft 177 is a scanning nozzle 185 having an inlet 186 defined' by a perimeter lip 137 which engages the surface 156 to be cleaned. In order to reciprocate .the nozzle across the inlet of the shroud 171B, the shaft 177 is provided with opposed threads 188 and 189 which are separately engaged by akey 190 mounted in the nozzle 185. Engagement of the key 190 with one of the threads in the rotating shaft 177 causes` the nozzle 185 to travel the length of the shroud 17d in one direction, `and thereafter the key 190 engages the other thread and causes the nozzle to travel in the opposite direction for the length of the nozzle 171). A guide rod 191 is mounted in the opposite end walls of the shroud 170 and slidably receives the nozzle 185 to prevent rotation of the latter as it is driven by the opposed threads 188, 1&9 across the inlet 163 of the shroud 170.

In order to provide suction pressure in the scanning nozzle inlet 136 separate from that present in the inlet 168 of the shroud 170, the scanning nozzle 185 is connected to an air jet 192 positioned at the end of the exhaust passageway 161. The nozzle 185 is provided with an elbow 193 connected by a swivel joint 194 to a resilient.

flexible hose 195 joined by a swivel 196 to a conduit 197 having an outlet 198 into the air jet 192. The `air jet 192 is attached to the body rear wall 152 land comprises a Igfrusto-conical wall 199 forming a plenum chamber 260 land extending therefrom is a tubular mem-ber 2131 having an inlet 2112 communicating with a constricted throat 2113 emerging into a diverging passageway 2114 having an outlet 205. Centrally disposed in the chamber 29o is a nozzle 206 having its inlet 297 connected to the exhaust passageway 161 -for receiving air under pressure from the fan chamber 166. The outlet 268 o-f the nozzle 286 is spaced from the throat 203 to form an annular passageway 2119 therebetween. The scanning nozzleconduit 197 is connected to the chamber 200 and thus with the annular passageway 2119 to provide suction in the scanning nozzle 185 upon discharge of air under pressure from the fan chamber 166 through the jet nozzle 206 to thereby aspirate air from the chamber 201i. A filter bag 210v is removably attached to the end of the tubular member 201 and to the handle 157, and receives the dirt laden air discharged from the conduit 197 yand exhaust passageway 161.

In order to clean the surface 156 the cleaner is propelled by the handle 157 in a path between the spaced dotted lines 211 shown in FIGURE 6, and the shroud or stationary nozzle 1711` is of such length as to completely span the surface in the cleaner path, whereas the scanning nozzle 185 has an inlet 186 of restricted area in compari- `son to the area of the shroud inlet 168 and the width of the cleaner path between the spaced lines 211. During movement of the cleaner in its path, the perimeter lip of the shroud inlet 168 engages the surface to be cleaned and the suction Vair stream provided by the motor driven fan 172 removes dirt from the surface, and such dirt laden air travels through the passageway 165, fan chamber 160, jet nozzle 206 into the bag 2101which tilters the dirt from the air stream prior to escape to atmosphere. At the same time the motor 159 rotates the shaft 177 in one direction land the opposed threads 188, 189 thereon cause the scanning nozzle 185 -to oscillate between the opposite ends of the stationary nozzle or shroud 17 0. The speed at which the scanning nozzle 185 oscillates across the surface in the cleaner path between the spaced lines 211 is such that it completely scans the surface area beneath the shroud inlet 166 as the latter travels in the cleaner path.

Since the inlet area 186 of the scanning nozzle 185 is small relative to the shroud inlet 168 the suction pressure in the scanning nozzle provided -by the air jet 192 is greater than in the shroud 170, whereby the scanning nozzle 185 cleans the surface by means of high suction and low air volume, `and the shroud 171i` cleans with a larger volume of air at lower suction pressure. The rapid oscillation of the scanning nozzle 185 agitates the surface in the cleaner path to loosen the dirt, whereby the suction air streams passing through both nozzles can easily remove the dirt embedded in the surface.

Although -a single stage fan has been shown in each embodiment of the invention, the scanning nozzle permits use of a fan system which provides higher suction than is iadapted for conventional upright cleaners. The rapidly moving scanning nozzle `also agitates the surface a great number of times as the cleaner travels in its. path. The shrouds or nozzles engage the surface to .be cleaned and serve to trap and confine the dirt within the shroud so that the scanning nozzle can easily remove the dint from the surface enclosed by the shroud.

In the claims, the scanning nozzle is described as moving across or transversely of the surface 4area in the cleaner path, and such expression is meant to include rotational and arcuate movement of the nozzle in the cleaner path.

While I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that those embodiments are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited to the particular structure shown and described but to include all equivalent variations except as limited by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, a body, means supporting said body yfor movement along a surface to be cleaned, means forming a downwardly facing recess extending generally transversely of said body and defining the width of the path to be cleaned as said body is moved along the surface lbeing cleaned, a single suction nozzle only positioned Within said recessy and mounted Ifor movement across said path as said body is moved along the surface being cleaned, suction creating means :for applying suction to said nozzle,l said nozzle having a restricted inlet in cornparison to the area of said path whereby said suction is concentrated over -a small area of said path, and power means `for continuously and repeatedly moving said restricted nozzle inlet across said path so as to apply a high suction to all portions of the surface being cleaned located in said path `as said body is moved -along the surface being cleaned.

2. Ina suction cleaner as described in claim 1, and said suction nozzle mounted `for rotation through 360 degrees across said path, and said power means rotating said restricted nozzle inlet -across said path.

3. In a suction cleaner as described in claim 1, and said single suction nozzle mounted for reciprocating movement of said restricted nozzle inlet transversely oi the cleaner path.

4. In a suction cleaner as described in claim 1 and said downwardly facing recess defining a nozzle inlet of greater area than said restricted nozzle inlet, and suction creating means connected to said larger nozzle inlet to provide relatively low pressure and high lair volume for removing dirt from the surface area being cleaned.

5. In a suction cleaner :as described in claim 4, and the suction creating means for said restricted nozzle inlet comprising 'air jet means to provide `a relatively small volume of air and high suction for removing dirt from the surface area being cleaned by said restricted nozzle.

6. In 'a `suction cleaner, a body, means supponting said body for movement on la surface to be cleaned, suction creating means, nozzle means connected to said suction creating means, said nozzle means including nozzle inlet means mounted on said body for movement along the surf-ace in la path transverse to the normal direction of movement of said body during cleaning operation, said nozzle inlet means constituting the sole means of applying suction to a surface to be cleaned, power means for moving said nozzle inlet means to repeatedly traverse said transverse path to suction clean the sur-face in said transverse path, said nozzle inlet means having such restricted inlet area in all positions of sai-d nozzle inlet means that the instantaneous swept portion Vin said transverse path is but a minor fraction of the length of said path transverse to said direction of movement and the remaining portion of said transverse path is instantaneously free of the effects of said nozzle inlet means while but a minor portion only of the transverse path is subjected to local high intensity cleaning action from said nozzle inlet means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,211,948 Koster et al. Ian. 9, 1917 1,318,881 Kelley Oct. 14, 1919 2,112,311 Smellie Mar. 29, 1938 2,168,692 Vidal Aug. 8, 1939 2,676,352 Moore Apr. 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,004,779 Germany Mar. 21, 1957 

